A timeless diva, one of our most international actresses, a
rising star and Oscar winner

There are very few actresses who have
matured (we will not say "aged") as well as Fanny
Ardant, who, having surpassed her sixtieth birthday,
still exudes a magnetic allure. She's the guest of
honor today at the Rome Film Festival, for the
presentation of the short film (which she wrote and starred in),
Chimères Absentes, a part of the movie Then and
Now. Beyond Borders and Differences, which is
collective effort by directors around the world including
Idrissa Ouédraogo, Jafar Panahi,
Abderrahmane Sissako and Robert
Wilson. The French actress talks to the public about
her commitment to the fair treatment of the Rom
people.

Another strong woman and exceptional actress is Valeria
Golino, who's participating in the festival with the film
La scuola è finita by Valerio Jalongo, in which she plays
the role of a teacher's trying to handle an ex-student and
drug dealer. The movie has already spurned
controversy regarding the Italian public school
system.

And the third big name for this Roman tribute to women, is
Marion Cotillard. The actress, who won an
Oscar for her portrayal of Edith Piaf, and stars in Inception, is on
hand to present Les Petits Mouchoirs by Guillaume Canet,
in which she plays a woman whose husband leaves her because
he discovers he's gay. Among the highlights of today's
events, a conversation with the comic genius John
Landis (The Blues Brothers, Animal
House). And we recommend a small, Italian film called Ad
ogni costo by Davide Alfonsi and Denis Malagnino, that
tells the story of the tough conditions in the outskirts of
Rome.